1. First, 2o Joioiv our own ximnt, and to know the iircessity of grace, and the exceUency of the state of holiness, that of all conditions it is the best, and of all conditions a sinful estate is the worst. This will make us go out of ourselves to Christ. Well, how shall we fetch strength from Christ then?
2. Consider wherefore Christ hath the treasures of all in him, and go to him for particular graces we want whatsoever. When we know the excel- lency and necessity of it before, then make use of the virtue of his death and resurrection. Thus, are we tempted to any sin ? Make use of the death of Christ, of his great love in giving himself, and then of the holiness of God in giving Christ to die for sin, he hates sin so ; and then,
3. Consider of the fruit of his death that was to free and deliver us from sin. When we think of these things, Did God and Christ so love me? Is it the holiness of God, and the holiness of Christ, that God became man to die for me, and shall I go and trifle, and be tempted to sin, and 'offend so holy and so gracious a God, that hates sin so infinitely ?
These be strong reasons fetched from Christ. We have from him both, the reasons why we should do good and why we should not do evil, and we have the strength. There are two things requisite for a man to do a thing as a man. The reason why he should do it, and strength to perform it, both these are from Christ.
As from ill we are stopped by the consideration of Chi'ist's death, so when we are moved to grace, consider the virtue of Christ's resurrection. Why is Christ now in heaven in our nature ? Is it not to fill his church with his Spirit ? Why doth he make intercession in heaven ? Is it not that we should not be discouraged notwithstanding our daily infirmities ? Shall we not make use of it ? He is glorious for us, not for himself, but for his mystical body. As he hath made his natural body glorious, so he will make his mystical body glorious by little and little. He being, there- fore, in heaven making intercession, go to him in the want of grace. And so for infirmities. The Spirit of God raised him at the lowest, and shall not the Spirit of God raise me from this and that. Yes, the Spirit of God will raise me from the baseness and misery of sin to be better and better. The same Spirit will enable me that raised his body. And so fetch virtue and strength fi-om Christ, make use of Christ for every turn. Oh that we could learn these things ! Then we should be able to go through all con- ditions : we should be able to live, able to die. I beseech you, therefore, consider what hath been spoken. Let us study Christ every day more and more, not for redemption and reconciliation only, though that in the first place, but study Christ to be all in all to us, to be our sanctification to fit us for ^heaven. Study the promises in Christ, lose no privilege. God would not have left them in his word but for our good. Take heed of base despair ; Oh, I shall never overcome this sin and that. What ! shut the
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people out of Canaan ? Base despair lost them earthly Canaati, Numb, xiv. 22, scq. So take heed it shut not you out of heavenly Canaan. I shall not be able to get the victory over sin, and I shall not be able to suffer. No. Why are the promises ? and why is Christ in heaven ? Shall we, by despair and by base infidelity, lose Christ, and the promises, and all that is put into our hands, and betray our souls basely to Satan ? I beseech yow, consider of the necessity of these things. We know not what times God may call us to ere long. Despair not beforehand. Let fall what will, get into Christ, to be in him in an happy and eternal condi tion. We shall have strength from him to carry ourselves in all estates. Come what will, he will stand by us ; he will not fail us nor forsake us. When did Paul speak these glorious words ? In prison. ' I can do all things through Christ,' &c. Did the Spirit of God leave Paul in prison ? Was it not better for Paul to have grace than to be freed from the thing ? Wicked men may be freed from trouble, only a Christian hath grace to carry himself well in trouble. Come what will, if we be in Christ, either we shall be freed from troubles, or we shall have grace to bear them. Either we shall have that we want, or we shall have contentment without it. Is it not better to have gi'ace without the thing ? Is it not better to have a glorious Spirit of glory resting on us ? Did not the Spirit of glory rest on Paul ? Could not God have freed Paul from prison ? Yes. But where had been then the demonstration of a contented spirit, of an heavenly mind ? Where had been this example of a Christian bearing the cross comfortably ? Paul lost nothing. Here you see how many stars shine in the night of his affliction, what a lustre he had in the dark state of imprisonment. Shall we then be afraid of any condition ? No. Get the Spirit of God ; get understanding of Christ, and the promises and privileges by him, and then let God cast us into what condition he will, we shall be safe and well.